Meet Strength, Become Strength
Photo by Peter Stewart
By Sabrina Qiu
I
remember walking through the market late at night, browsing what each small shop had to offer, when a man caught my eye. He was sitting on his stool with a straight posture, forearms leaning against the edge of the table, and eyes looking down extremely focused. Surrounding him were the walls of his makeshift shop decorated from top to bottom with a hundred different scrolls, each showcasing a beautiful piece of calligraphy or artwork.
(yù qiáng yuè qiáng) roughly translates into “meet strength, become strength.” It is an idiom that embodies what it means for one to take on tough challenges. The harder the task, the more rewarding the prize. The tougher the opponent, the tougher you will be when you finally overcome them. In the piece, the second ‘qi ’ is written straighter, harsher, and with more pressure than the first. The artist told me it was meant to signify the toughness of the one who When I stepped inside, the man didn’t immediately greet overcomes the challenge, as well as mimic the change me or try to get me to purchase anything. He was busy working in tone when people often present the phrase. on another scroll, feathering the surface with the ink-dipped tip of his wooden brush. It was only after a minute or so of This phrase is actually an example of a type of me walking around that he was able to spare me a glance. He traditional Chinese idiomatic expression known asked me if I was looking to get as f (chéngyu). It typically anything specific. I replied I consists of only four didn’t know yet. characters and can be heard in daily spoken language After finishing up, the man even in the modern-day. The carefully placed the scroll to thousands of 成語 have been the side and left it to dry. I recorded over history are noticed that with each one of considered to be the collected his works, he signs and stamps wisdom of Chinese culture. it using red ink and a piece of They are the experiences, wood that seemed customlessons, and warnings engraved with his signature of thousands of Chinese mark. In a very warm but generations passed used to professional voice, he began educate those of the present to give his elevator speech on on morality and life virtues. his services and showed me the different sizes and colors I have this scroll hanging of scrolls I could choose from. right next to my bedroom He said with confidence that door. Every day I wake up and whatever I wanted, he could pass by it before I start my put on a scroll, whether it was day. It’s a beautiful and poetic a traditional Chinese poem or reminder to not be afraid a painting of Iron Man. It took of the challenges that are me a while to decide what I thrown at me, and that there wanted, but after a bit, I finally will always be something to Photo by Sabrina Qiu narrowed my choices down to one that I liked. be gained from every experience.
14 ASIAN OUTLOOK
